Economy of Brittany

History

Commercial links at the 15th century

Since the most moved back times, small Brittany had commercial links with the the United Kingdom. Generally the Brittany occupied a central geographical position between the Spain, the England and the Holland. The Breton ones transported the Vin of Bordeaux, the Sel of Guérande and Bourgneuf. Brittany exported Beurre, Suif, Viande S salted, Porc S alive, Poisson dry or salted in barrels and manufactured goods like the fabric S. In 1483, there are 344 Breton ships in the port of Arnemuiden in Holland. At the 15th century, Brittany was rich.

The war of succession

The duchy of Brittany grows rich during the One hundred Year old Guerre but ends up sinking in a war of succession which marks the beginning of the end of Breton prosperity. After the union of the Duchy of Brittany to the Kingdom of France in 1488, the English do not have any more scruples to attack the ports and the Breton cities. In 1522 Morlaix is plundered.

Consequences of integration with France

The famous rich person patrons and artists, after the marriage of Anne of Brittany, will desert the ducal court from Brittany.

The Treaty of Union of 1532 attaches the Duché of Brittany to the France. This period, of the middle of the 15th century in the middle of the 17th century, will be most prosperous of the history of the duchy. But the integration of a country whose economy was based on the international business in a country always in war against its neighbors will end up involving the decline of the maritime activities and commercial, and exporting linen industries. The absence of maritime Politique will cruelly be felt.

The harbor development

The XVIIe century sees the creation or the restoration of the Breton main ports: The wearing of Lorient is founded by Colbert in 1660. It will be the seat of the French Compagnie of the Eastern Indies. The wearing of Brest is seen equipping with an arsenal by Richelieu, as from 1683. The wearing of Saint-Malo sends its fishermen until Newfoundland.

The Breton ones will provide an important quota of colonists bound for the the Antilles and of North America.

At the XVIIIe century the Breton ports continue their development in particular Nantes, which thrives thanks to the triangular Commerce.

Conflicts with the English then British

Following its fastening in 1532 in France (Treated union of 1532), the Brittany declined because of the ceaseless wars to the 16th century, 17th century, 18th century, and beginning of the 19th century between the France and the England (then the Great Britain and the the United Kingdom). The blockades, attacks of the ports and the Breton vessels by the English/British navy, and rearmaments of the Breton trading vessels to fine soldiers ruined the Breton Commerce but made the fortune of the ports corsairs.

12000 anglo-Dutch unloads with the Conquet in 1588. Brest is attacked in 1594. In 1693 and 1695 the English attack Saint-Malo. In 1746 the British besiege Lorient and plunder Quiberon. In 1758 they attack Saint-Malo again, unload with Cancale, burn the villages in the neighborhoods and 55 ships. The British occupy Belle-Île of 1760 has 1763. In 1806 they will seize even the Glénan. The majority of the Breton islands including Batz, Houat, Hoëdic are occupied at one time or another by the British who make of them bases for launching attacks on the Breton ports and preventing any trade while capturing or running the ships which pass to range of gun. Probably thousands of commercial boats based in Breton ports were captured or destroyed by the vessels of its majesty during all these wars.

French monarchy makes build new vessels (the central forest or Argoat would have been destroyed to build the royal and imperial navy) and there recruit sailors for the fleet and of the colonists for the colonies. If Colbert chooses to establish a port with Lorient it is that Le Havre is in the Manche and too threatened by the British although he would have preferred Le Havre because the spices of the Indies could go up until Paris by the the Seine.

The loss of the colonies of America and the Indies, then the continental Blocus established by Napoleon I {{er}} carried the blow of thanks to the Breton trade. The domination of the British Marine made of the Atlantic a British sea. The harmony of 1904 between the France and the the United Kingdom was revolving which allowed the establishment of a durable peace in Brittany and the beginning of its economic recovery.

Situation at the 19th century

The Preserve and the tinplate box were invented at the beginning of the 19th century giving to Brittany a new industry and products to (weak) added-value.

At the 20th century, in the years 1930, the policy of the government led to the disappearance of the traffic between Brittany and Wales (potatoes, coal,…). The Johnies (Breton farmers going once per annum to sell their production of onions in England) also disappear about this time.

Contemporary time

The economy of the Brittany is turned towards the Agriculture and the agribusiness industries, the estival Tourisme (mainly on the coast), as well as technological poles of Télécommunication (Rennes, Lannion).

Agriculture

Fish

Historical Brittany (including the department of the Loire-Atlantique) represents the first area of fishing of France, adding up 47% of the production in volume.

External bonds

Panormama of the Breton economy

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